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Thursday, July 24, 2008

Warriors ever glorious

There is a small but strong army of us who insist on ignoring the seasons. We care not whether the thermometer keeps rising. We scoff at the fact it remains daylight well past 7pm. We are the few, the proud, the autumn cookers. We make Thanksgiving dinners in June, chili in May, and pumpkin recipes in July.

This one is dedicated to Amber, because my last pumpkin cake had raisins, and she doesn't like raisins. Well Amber, this one's for you. Raisin free. Instead I used caramel. Because nothing says "Suck it, Summer" like the sweet fall flavor of caramel. The only thing that would have give Mother Nature more of the finger would have been adding apple - which isn't a half bad idea.....next time!

This time however I stuck with the caramel and pumpkin and topped with a caramel glaze. So sweet, so dense, so downright Autumnal. So we march on valiantly, as most armies do, on their stomachs. (A nickel for whoever remembers what famous leader gave us that quote.) After all, soon it will actually be fall!

Pumpkin Caramel Cake

2/3 cup shortening

1 stick butter, softened

3 cups sugar

1 cup Caramel Topping

1 cup canned pumpkin

5 eggs

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 cups powdered sugar

chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray bundt cake pan with Cooking Spray.

Beat shortening, butter and sugar on medium speed of kitchenaid until well blended.

And as if that wasn't enough, I've been tagged for a very cool meme by the equally cool Elly. Elly has some of the best taste in music of all people I know. And that's saying a lot since I know quite a few people with fantastic musical taste.

The rules for the this particular meme are:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring (or whatever season). Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they’re listening to.

I'm going through a very blue-sy phase right now, or maybe it's just a dark phase. I dunno, but these are my current "listen to over and over again" songs. 1. Amy Winehouse - Back in Black. I know. I know. I hate Amy Winehouse and all she stands for. Nevertheless, I just can't help but sing this song over and over again. It just sticks in your head. Plus her voice is so Shirley Bassey-esque.2. Ludo - Love Me Dead. So dark, and yet funny. Kinda like me...right? right? RIGHT?????3. Duffy - Mercy. This is one of those songs that's always playing in stores and on the radio and has you humming after. But this week on SYTYCD it officially made it onto my favorites list. And after all, wouldn't this convert you?

4. A Man's Got to Do. If you haven't downloaded this series yet, there's something wrong with you. And I pity you. I made Thatboy listen to this song over and over again on a long drive lately. He loves me very much.

And some old favorites.5. As Long As it Matters - The Gin Blossoms. Right now I just can't get enough. I listen to the Gin Blossoms daily and this moody ballady song gets me every time. I croon it to Thatboy, Thatdog, and my zucchini as I chop.6. Ohio - Bowling for Soup. This is such a summer guilty pleasure for me. It's a "rock out in your car" kind of song...and then the whole day because you just can't get it out of your head.7. Calling You - Bowling for Soup. Another moody ballad. See what I mean about the mood I'm in. Plus I just like the tinny quality of the chorus. It makes me think of those tin can phones we used to use as a kid and summer sleepovers in the tent in the backyard.

adore!! as soon as it drops below 75 in our house, i'm allll over this recipe :D in fact, i actually commented to jim that i can't wait til it gets chilly so i can go on a soup/casserole/baked goods making bender. wheeee!

i had that duffy song on my itunes before that fab performance, but that just set it over the top for me. i'd love to live in mia michael's head for just one day. i bet it's one crazy ass place ;)

I am all about defying seasons. I am totally making some spiced madeleines this week, which totally remind me of fall. 90 degree weather be damned! You have some great song choices there. I am with you on the Amy Winehouse tip. And man, I seriously got so excited at the mention of Shirley Bassey!